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VANCOUVER — Centre back Brad Rusin wasn’t going to be in the starting lineup for the Vancouver Whitecaps last Saturday.

And with captain Jay DeMerit having practised all week and seemingly prepared to go 90 minutes despite missing most of the pre-season with Achilles tendinitis, the likelihood of Rusin even getting off the bench seemed slim.

But in addition to everything else the Indiana native has got going for himself — 6-4, great hair and “good looking for a centre back” — he might also have Kreskin-esque qualities.

Rusin brought his mom, Karen, in from Florida for the Caps’ Major League Soccer regular-season opener at BC Place. And then seven minutes into Vancouver’s eventual 1-0 win over Toronto FC, DeMerit went down with a torn left Achilles and the 26-year-old recruit out of Denmark was thrust into action.

“I was prepared, to be honest with you,” the laid-back Rusin said after practice Tuesday. “Jay was struggling here and there throughout the pre-season and I was getting a lot of minutes with the first team, playing next to Andy, so I was confident going on.

“It was a tough situation to make my (MLS) debut – the atmosphere of the home opener, a big crowd, a big match. But ultimately I was ready.”

That doesn’t mean he wasn’t nervous. He wouldn’t be human if he wasn’t.

“But after the first couple of minutes, making a pass, winning a header, making a tackle, then it was just be yourself and enjoy the game.”

“Yeah, she was pretty excited. I gave her my game jersey afterwards. She loved it. I wasn’t going to play ... and she got to see me play.”

Karen now is staying through next Saturday’s match against the Columbus Crew, which is good, says Rusin, because she’s cooking meals “decorating the apartment, everything.” He’s also going to play tour guide this week now that he’s discovered Yaletown, Granville Island and Gastown.

“There’s some nice places ... and this is a great sports town, for sure.”

The UCLA grad previously played for Caps’ head coach Martin Rennie at second-tier Carolina before heading to Denmark in 2011. Rennie, who liked the lanky defender’s calm, cool demeanour, was confident Rusin could step in and do the job.

Rusin confidently headed away dangerous balls, made simple and effective plays with the ball at his feet and showed some pace and superb technique in the 40th minute when he tracked back into the box to make a sliding tackle on Toronto’s Robert Earnshaw.

“The timing of that tackle was impeccable because if he hadn’t got that right, obviously, it could have been a penalty kick,” said Rennie. “Because I’ve worked with him for a couple of years, I know he’s got that kind of tackle in his locker.”

Rusin, who figures to get the start Saturday against visiting Columbus, said his transition into MLS has been smoothed by the fact he’s playing in a back line with three experienced players. O’Brien, 33, is a veteran of more than 300 English Premier League games, left fullback Alain Rochat, 30, played in Switzerland before joining the Caps last season, and 35-year-old right fullback Y.P. Lee has played all over the world. And, of course, goalkeeper Joe Cannon, 38, is a veteran of 15 MLS seasons.

“There’s a lot of leadership back there ... and I played all pre-season with those guys,” said Rusin. “I just felt really comfortable to be in there.”

While Rusin was solid against a Toronto squad missing its top goal scorer from last season, injured Dutchman Danny Koevermans, and playing with a handful of guys just getting to know each other, Columbus will present a much tougher challenge.

The Crew beat Chivas USA 3-0 on Saturday, with Argentinian forward Federico Higuain — last season’s MLS newcomer of the year — slotting in a screamer from 25 yards and Josh Williams scoring on an acrobatic flick off a corner kick.

“Columbus has been together the whole pre-season,” said Rusin. “This week, I’m sure we’ll go over how they play, how they possess the ball and how they make runs behind.”

Rusin was the obvious choice to fill in for DeMerit on Saturday and again against Columbus, but he is by no means assured of staying there. The Caps signed Honduran international Johnny Leveron, a highly regarded, left-footed centre back last month.

Leveron captained the Honduran team at the 2012 London Olympics. He played some pre-season games with the Caps, but hasn’t made it to Vancouver yet as he and the club continue to sort out his work visa.

Rusin said he doesn’t think Leveron’s imminent arrival will mean he’ll be under any more pressure to hold his place in the lineup.

“It’s part of the job. Every day you come out here and work for a starting spot, regardless of who it’s against. If Jay was healthy, Andy stays healthy, I would still be in the same situation, fighting to earn a spot.”

CORNER KICK: The club announced Tuesday a new Whitecaps FC Academy Centre in Saskatoon, where kids from the U10 to U18 level can train. The academy will be led by Bryce Chapman, longtime coach of the men’s program at the University of Saskatchewan.

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